Bengal Foundation marks the new year with Boishakh Utshob

Bengal Foundation has arranged a five-day “Boishakh Utshob” in the capital yesterday, with a unique way to raise awareness. Consciousness spreads effectively through songs, poems, and discussions. With that in mind, the festival aims to promote the realisation of people’s actions through Bengali songs, dances and instruments.

As heritage, culture and lifestyle are highly influenced by the Bengali New Year, Bengal Foundation spared no effort to spread the message of humanity and consciousness. Open to all, the festival shall continue till April 13, and is being hosted at the Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi. Performances are scheduled to begin at 7pm every day.

The program features songs of Tagore, Nazrul, the “Tin Kobi” (Atulprasad, Rajanikanta Sen and Dwijendralal Ray), as well as folk music and classical numbers by the country’s leading singers.

Tomorrow’s shall uplift “Shangeetshondhya” as the main highlight, which will feature songs of the “Tin Kobi” as well as classical tracks. Jhuma Khandaker, Tanvir Alam Sajib, Subir Nandi and Iffat Ara Dewan are all scheduled to perform.

The final two days of the fest shall emphasise on folk songs, instrumentals, and classical music, with the likes of Chandana Majumdar and Kiran Chandra Roy.

That’s not all. A puppet show by the Bangladesh Putul Natya Gobeshona O Unnoyon Kendra, an affiliate of the department of drama and dramatics of Jahangirnagar University, also took part to illustrate their talents. Children in the audience were mesmerised by the play Kupokat, written by Munier Chowdhury, Tonatuni by Jasimuddin and Nakkata Rajar by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, all of which were directed by Dr Harun Rashid.